Today's Headlines: Pope Calls For Peace In Niger Republic, Niger Does Not Want War, Says Coup Leader

Pope Calls For Peace In Niger Republic

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Pope Francis on Sunday urged a diplomatic solution to a political crisis in Niger, sparked by a coup that threatens stability in the region.

“I am following with concern what is happening in Niger, and join the bishops’ call in favour of peace in the country and stability in the Sahel,” said Pope Francis, addressing the faithful in St Peter’s Square after his Angelus prayer

“I join with prayer the efforts of the international community to find a peaceful solution as soon as possible for the good of everyone,” said the 86-year-old.

Army officers ousted President Mohamed Bazoum on July 26, making Niger the fourth West African nation to suffer a coup since 2020.

Niger Does Not Want War, Says Coup Leader

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The leader of the rebels that seized power in Niger, Gen. Abdourahamane Tchiani, said on Saturday that his country does not want war, but will be ready to defend itself if necessary.

“Neither the army nor the people of Niger want war, but we will resist any manifestation of it,” Tchiani was quoted as saying by the Al Jazeera broadcaster.

He noted that the member countries of the Economic Community of West African States do not realise that Niger has become the key to containing the region from destabilisation against the backdrop of increased terrorist activity.

Tchiani added that the sanctions imposed against his country were aimed at putting pressure on the rebels, and not at finding a solution to the current situation.

In addition, Tchiani said that rebels do not seek to seize power in the country but rather seek to come to a solution that would meet the interests of the people.

On Saturday, media reported that an ECOWAS delegation arrived in the capital of Niger and met with deposed President Mohamed Bazoum to assess the conditions of his detention.

Later in the day, Reuters reported that the delegation also held talks with Tchiani.

A coup took place in Niger on July 26 and Bazoum was ousted and detained by his own guard, led by Tchiani.

Following the coup, ECOWAS suspended all financial aid to Niger, froze rebels’ assets, and imposed a ban on commercial flights to and from the country.

Beware the Coup Belt – Fani-Kayode

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Despite the hysteria about who has been made a Minister and who has not and the euphoria about which portfolios they have been given or not been given, let us remain focused on the major issues of the day and not take our eye off the ball.

And other than our economic and security challenges, the weighty issue is the conundrum that we are presented with in Niger Republic and the challenge of military governments in our backyard.

The facts are as follows: Sudan, Chad, Niger, Burkina Faso, Mali and Guinea have all been plagued with coup and military governments over the last three years.

They have formed a formidable and intimidating ‘coup belt’ of unelected military rulers which stretches from Guinea on the westernflank of the West African subregion right on the Atlantic ocean up across the southern flank of the North African Sahel and the Lake Chad region all the way to East Africa and the Pacific ocean.

SERAP to Tinubu: Stop Wike, Umahi, other ministers from collecting pensions as ex-governors

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The Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP) has urged President Bola Tinubu to “publicly instruct the former governors who are now serving as ministers in your administration to stop collecting life pensions, exotic cars and other allowances from their states while they serve as ministers.”

SERAP urged him to “instruct the former governors to immediately return any pension and allowances that they may have collected since leaving office to the public treasury.”

The following former governors are now ministers in the Tinubu administration: Abubakar Badaru; Nyesom Wike; Bello Matawalle; Adegboyega Oyetola; and David Umahi. Others are: Simon Lalong; Atiku Bagudu; and Ibrahim Geidam.

In the letter dated 19 August and signed by SERAP deputy director Kolawole Oluwadare, the organisation said: “The appointment of former governors who collect life pensions while serving as ministers is implicitly forbidden by the Nigerian Constitution 1999 [as amended] and the country’s international legal obligations.”

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